Deaf Dog Finds Forever Home with Deaf Woman

Rosie is a deaf pit bull mix that has spent the past three months in the Central Nebraska Humane Society’s kennels, hoping for a forever home. One day a woman, also deaf, happened to walk in and a perfect match was made, making all of Rosie’s forever home dreams come true.

Cindy Koch has always wanted a deaf dog. When asked why she would give the same reply every time.

“Because I’m deaf and we want to relate to her, and understand how she feels- (we) want to communicate with her through signing, teach her signing.”

Just watching the two interact anyone can see that these two will be the best of friends for years to come.

Workers at the clinic could not figure out why they could not get Rosie to react to them or respond to them at all. Shelter volunteer Tracie Pfeifle came up with the answer. Rosie paid them no attention when they would call, because she couldn’t hear them. Rosie was deaf. That’s when Tracie decided to teach Rosie sign language.

“She was pretty scared at first,” said Tracy. “I don’t think she had a good first four years of her life.”

However, after learning a few signs, such as a thumbs-up for “good girl”, Tracie says that Rosie transformed into a whole new dog.

“It was just amazing to watch her just blossom into a new dog, I don’t think she knew how to be a dog,” Tracie said.
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